Our one month long internship at the Greening the Desert Project (the 'Sequel site') just ended. Ten students arriving from seven different countries were part of the first internship to take place at the project site in the Dead Sea Valley in Jordan. This will be a journey through pictures on what Geoff, Nadia, the interns and the WWOOFers were up to. … [Read more...]
PDC with Geoff Lawton Held in Al Jawfa, Dead Sea Valley, Jordan, Oct 2012
The new Jordan Valley Permaculture Project (left foreground) aka 'Greening the Desert - the Sequel', September 2011 Photo © Craig Mackintosh Do you think it's time to look at the world from a different perspective? Do you know what the problems facing humanity are but have no idea how and where and what to start with? Do you want to change your life to a more sustainable, self-sufficient and enjoyable experience? … [Read more...]
Jordan Valley Permaculture Project Update: Post IPC Happenings
An aerial view of the site Although the landscape here could be seen as a model for scarcity, what there is an abundance of is rocks. The baked dusty earth barely passes for soil and during the summer there isn’t rain here for over six months. With valuable agricultural resources seemingly at a minimum, rocks can be incredibly valuable in the design of a sustainable human settlement. In the case of the Permaculture Research Institute of Jordan’s site (PRIJ), rocks have formed the main building … [Read more...]
Letters from Jordan: ‘Greening the Desert – the Sequel’ Site Contrasts Against Jordan Insanities
Staring into the eyes of the future of Jordan, one wonders how things could be.... All Photographs © Craig Mackintosh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYk21PLKGgg Al Jazeera's very recent feature of the new 'Greening the Desert' site Introduction Why did the photojournalist cross the road? It sounds like the beginning of a joke, and, in a way, it was. I was standing at a busy road in Amman, Jordan, contemplating crossing. I say 'contemplating' as there were three lanes in each direction, and … [Read more...]
Letters from Jordan – IPC10 and the Permaculture Princess
Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan opens IPC10 Photographs © Craig Mackintosh The opening of the Tenth International Permaculture Conference (IPC10) already saw Permaculture getting the attention it deserves. Over 100 people from around the world were seated to 'break bread' at the conference's opening gala dinner on the evening of Friday September 16. Aside from permaculturists from every continent, the event also drew (by our own 'subversive' design) people of influence from within Jordanian … [Read more...]
Jordan Valley Permaculture Project – August 2011 Photo Update
Latifa inspects project development from a unique vantage point It's been just over a year since I've visited the Jordan Valley Permaculture Project (aka 'Greening the Desert - the Sequel') site, and I'm keen to check out progress when I visit next month (September 2011). In the meantime, Geoff, who is in Jordan now to help organise the upcoming Tenth International Permaculture Conference & Convergence (IPC10), has sent through a few pictures I can share today. … [Read more...]
Water Shortages Threaten Food Future in the Arab Middle East
by Lester R. Brown, Earth Policy Institute Captured from a bus window, while crossing the no-man’s land between Jordan and Israel/Palestine, the once-mighty Jordan river is today just a murky trickle (see bottom centre of image) that wouldn’t flow at all today if it wasn’t for the pollution poured into it…. It is estimated that the Jordan River will dry up completely by the end of 2011. Photo © Craig Mackintosh Long after the political uprisings in the Middle East have subsided, many underlying … [Read more...]
Dispatch from the Jordan Valley Permaculture Project (aka ‘Greening the Desert – the Sequel’) – April 2011
The Jordan Valley Permaculture Project (aka 'Greening the Desert - the Sequel') Here at the Jordan Valley Permaculture Project in Jawasari, we’re hard at work building the main facilities and enhancing the fertility of the site while we’re at it. Those who had the chance to see the system last summer may have had some pangs of fear looking at some of the fruit trees, nearly prostrate beneath the intense yearly roasts the Jordan valley experiences in last months of summer -- last summer being … [Read more...]
Update on the Jordan Valley Permaculture Project (aka ‘Greening the Desert, the Sequel’): “Leave All Expectations Behind”
I felt fully prepared leaving for Jordan three weeks ago. Equipped with a 55ltr backpack laden with books, a compost thermometer, a dumpy level as hand luggage and a few well chosen words of advice from former patrons of the land: "Leave all expectations behind". In fact, as i remember correctly, it was to "flush them down the toilet". Within hours of my arrival it became rapidly apparent that would become the most useful thing I was to bring with me, or rather didn't bring, as the case may be. … [Read more...]
Jordan Valley Permaculture Project – November 2010 Update
The Jordan Valley Permaculture Project (aka 'Greening the Desert - the Sequel') in Al Jawaseri in the Dead Sea Valley (lowest place on earth), continues to develop as we gradually fund the project into action with our own permaculture education programs, volunteers and funding from Muslim Aid Australia and Kids are Sweet of Wisconsin, USA. The male and female shower and compost toilet block is now reaching completion using a basic faralone design system (PDF, with others composting toilet … [Read more...]
Letters from the West Bank – Seeds of Hope Scattered from the West Bank’s First PDC
Editor's caution: I trust our objective, peace-loving permaculture readers will resist the temptation to comment such, but just in case, please know that non-productive, antagonistic comments against any of the players involved in the Israeli/Palestinian Middle-East conflict will not be moderated through. Keep them civil, well-intentioned and constructive and you'll pass muster though. The view at sunset, westwards from Marda, Palestine All photographs © copyright Craig Mackintosh This is now … [Read more...]
Letters from Jordan – a PDC at the Bottom of the World
Profuse apologies for being remiss on the posting front of late. I have more than a dozen posts queued in my head, but finding a minute to breathe and get 'em down onto the keyboard has proven difficult. A few people have been pressing me for Part III of the Sarvodaya series, but never fear, it'll come as soon as I can. In the meantime I have a little video mission in Jordan to fulfil. For now, here's a teeny glimpse at the latest: Geoff, Nadia and I are currently stationed a stone's throw … [Read more...]